The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has carried out a community sensitization campaign in Ebonyi to address rising vandalism and the illegal erection of structures on its Right of Way (RoW).
Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, stated in Abuja on Saturday that the campaign took place in Umuhuali, Ezillo, and Nkalagu communities.
She added that the campaign also involved soil excavation near transmission tower bases.
Enugu Region’s Transmission Manager, Thomas Inugonum, explained that the initiative aims to strengthen relationships with communities hosting TCN infrastructure.
He identified five urgent issues: vandalism of 330kV and 132kV high-voltage lines, illegal structures within RoW, soil excavation around towers, dangers of living or farming under high-voltage towers, and burning waste beneath transmission lines.
Inugonum noted that similar campaigns in Makurdi, Benue, and Agbogugu and Ihe communities in Enugu had positive results, and he was optimistic about Ebonyi’s success.
He recalled a tragic incident in Ezillo where an unidentified vandal was electrocuted while attempting to damage tower 34 on the Nkalagu-Abakaliki 132kV line.
He also disclosed that on May 9, local youths and security personnel in Ezza Umuhuali arrested two vandals dismantling components from Towers T15, T16, and T17 along the same line.
“Vandalized tower parts worth millions of naira are sold cheaply to scrap dealers,” he said.
Inugonum urged continuous community engagement, grassroots surveillance, and collaboration with security agencies to stop illegal resale of stolen components.
He called on residents to report suspicious activities around TCN facilities promptly via security agencies or hotlines.
During the campaign, Inugonum and his team visited the traditional ruler of Umuhuali, His Royal Highness Eze Patrick Udoku, who pledged full support for safeguarding power installations and preventing encroachment.
Representing the communities, Mr. Solomon Nweke, President General of Ezza Umuhuali Town Union, credited local vigilantes and leaders for recent arrests.
He described attacks on power infrastructure as “a threat to the national economy and public safety.”
Nweke urged TCN to sustain community engagement and bolster local surveillance efforts.
Participants from various communities pledged their full cooperation to TCN and security agencies to protect transmission facilities serving their areas and Nigeria.
